SUPERTYPHOONS

These past few months we have experienced a spate of strong typhoons. One after another, these supertyphoons have battered and pounded the country, leaving large-scale devastation in their wake. Today, another supertyphoon is on its way. This morning, signal no. 4 has been raised over the Bicol region, where my wife hails from. On the other hand, Metro Manila is said to be under signal no. 3.

I have observed a disturbing pattern in our weather cycle. I am no weather specialist and my knowledge in climatology is basically nil. With recent events, however, I cannot help but think that our weather system may have gone berserk and awry. I cannot recall an instance during my childhood days where signal no. 4 was ever declared. The strongest typhoon then was rated no. 3. However, in recent years, supertyphoons classified as signal no. 4 have become quite a common occurrence. So common, indeed, that we can have two or three supertyphoons in a year, just like what is happening now.

I do not want to sound like a doomsayer but can this phenomenon be an ominous foreshadowing of graver things to come as we near what believers say as the end of the world?

I wish it is not...